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Protien Skimmer Recommendations?

Good morning, all. I m looking for a new skimmer, as I cracked my old Prism skimmer last night, when I disassembled it for cleaning. I m hoping that someone

Message 1 of 20
, Apr 5, 2007

Good morning,
all.

I'm looking for a new
skimmer, as I cracked my old Prism skimmer last night, when I disassembled it
for cleaning. I'm hoping that someone can share their protein skimmer
recommendations or personal experiences. Most "reviews" I've seen on the
net seem to really be advertisements.

Up front, I'd rather
not purchase junk. The Prism skimmer always seemed kind of cheap to me,
but it worked okay as long as I monitored it. Unfortunately, I needed to
clean the unit frequently because scum would coat the inside of the "bubble
tower" and the unit would stop collecting
contaminants.

My tank is a 55
gallon, with a 20 gallon bioball sump below. (I have plans to build
a refugium in it's place... I've already started collecting parts.
When that happens, I might consider moving it
below.)

I use my lower-cabinet
for storage of my fish "stuff", so housing more gear under there might cause a
storage issue.

Kind
regards,

Rusty

Alabama,
USA

Giancarlo Podio

Of the hang-on-back skimmers, here are my personal preferences in order: 1. Coralife Super Skimmer - These are relatively new and gaining popularity. They are

Message 2 of 20
, Apr 5, 2007

Of the hang-on-back skimmers, here are my personal preferences in
order:

1. Coralife Super Skimmer - These are relatively new and gaining
popularity. They are perhaps not built with similar quality as some
of the more expensive skimmers but their efficiency and the design
principle used is one of the better ones around today. It's a needle-
wheel venturi driven skimmer. It can be hung on the back or the tank
or in a sump. Different sizes exist but all have a relatively large
pump to drive them properly.http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_coralife_super_ne
edle_wheel_venturi_system.asp

3. CPR Backpack Skimmers - This is what I've been using in my 40g
reef for the last 3 years. They are very similar to the CPR units but
use the pump to suck in air and mix it through the impeller, a
smaller scale setup to the first in the list. Not a bad skimmer at
all and on Reefcentral.com you can usually find one for sale for
under $100. Not as efficient as the two above however, I have
modified mine to meet my needs.http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_cpr_bak-
pak_sr_dx.asp

Not sure where to place this last one, it's a new brand called
Octopus, I have the NW-200 running in my new 180g and it's great,
competes very well with skimmers costing 2-3 times as much. This
company also makes two hang-on-back versions, a single and double
chamber HOB skimmer, I would assume they are good, in looking at the
photos they look like CPR Backpack skimmers on steroids (larger pump)
but I have not tried them nor heard from anyone who has to date.

As for the Prizm skimmers, I rarely hear anything good about them to
be honest... but I haven't tried one before.

Happy skimming!
Giancarlo Podio, LMD

--- In UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com, "Lawrence" <porsche.9146@...> wrote:
>
> Good morning, all.
>
> I'm looking for a new skimmer, as I cracked my old Prism skimmer
last night,
> when I disassembled it for cleaning. I'm hoping that someone can
share
> their protein skimmer recommendations or personal experiences. Most
> "reviews" I've seen on the net seem to really be advertisements.
>
> Up front, I'd rather not purchase junk. The Prism skimmer always
seemed
> kind of cheap to me, but it worked okay as long as I monitored it.
> Unfortunately, I needed to clean the unit frequently because scum
would coat
> the inside of the "bubble tower" and the unit would stop collecting
> contaminants.
>
> Characteristics I'd like: hang-on, efficient, quiet and something
that
> won't get clogged easily.
>
> My tank is a 55 gallon, with a 20 gallon bioball sump below. (I
have plans
> to build a refugium in it's place... I've already started
collecting parts.
> When that happens, I might consider moving it below.)
>
> I use my lower-cabinet for storage of my fish "stuff", so housing
more gear
> under there might cause a storage issue.
>
> Kind regards,
> Rusty
> Alabama, USA
>

Lawrence

Giancarlo, Thank you for your input - I ll read those sites now. The lady at my LFS tried to steer me towards a Sea Clone. They didn t have any in stock, but

Message 3 of 20
, Apr 5, 2007

Giancarlo,

Thank you for your input - I'll read those sites
now. The lady at my LFS tried to steer me towards a Sea
Clone. They didn't have any in stock, but said they could get me one by
Wednesday. She seemed sincere and wasn't pushing for an immediate
sale.

Any one running a Sea Clone? I liked the one they
were using on a tank in the store, because of the low-profile when it
hung off the back. It would hide behind my hood
nicely.

Of the hang-on-back skimmers, here are my personal preferences in
order:

1. Coralife Super Skimmer - These are relatively new and
gaining popularity. They are perhaps not built with similar quality as some
of the more expensive skimmers but their efficiency and the design
principle used is one of the better ones around today. It's a
needle-wheel venturi driven skimmer. It can be hung on the back or the tank
or in a sump. Different sizes exist but all have a relatively large pump
to drive them properly.http://www.marinede pot.com/aquarium _protein_ skimmers_ coralife_ super_needle_wheel_venturi_ system.asp

3.
CPR Backpack Skimmers - This is what I've been using in my 40g reef for the
last 3 years. They are very similar to the CPR units but use the pump to
suck in air and mix it through the impeller, a smaller scale setup to the
first in the list. Not a bad skimmer at all and on Reefcentral. com you
can usually find one for sale for under $100. Not as efficient as the two
above however, I have modified mine to meet my needs.http://www.marinede pot.com/aquarium _protein_ skimmers_ cpr_bak-pak_sr_dx.asp

Not
sure where to place this last one, it's a new brand called Octopus, I have
the NW-200 running in my new 180g and it's great, competes very well with
skimmers costing 2-3 times as much. This company also makes two hang-on-back
versions, a single and double chamber HOB skimmer, I would assume they are
good, in looking at the photos they look like CPR Backpack skimmers on
steroids (larger pump) but I have not tried them nor heard from anyone who
has to date.

>
> Of the hang-on-back skimmers, here are my personal preferences in
> order:
>
> 1. Coralife Super Skimmer - These are relatively new and gaining
> popularity. They are perhaps not built with similar quality as some
> of the more expensive skimmers but their efficiency and the design
> principle used is one of the better ones around today. It's a

needle-

> wheel venturi driven skimmer. It can be hung on the back or the

tank

> or in a sump. Different sizes exist but all have a relatively large
> pump to drive them properly.
>

> edle_wheel_venturi_system.asp
>
> 2. AquaC Remora series - These are popular "spray induction" driven
> skimmers. Very good build quality and long standing reputation. Not
> quite as efficient in my opinion as the above skimmers, but they

take

> up less room and depending on the size and load of your tank, these
> may suffice.
>

> .asp
>
> 3. CPR Backpack Skimmers - This is what I've been using in my 40g
> reef for the last 3 years. They are very similar to the CPR units

but

> use the pump to suck in air and mix it through the impeller, a
> smaller scale setup to the first in the list. Not a bad skimmer at
> all and on Reefcentral.com you can usually find one for sale for
> under $100. Not as efficient as the two above however, I have
> modified mine to meet my needs.
> http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_cpr_bak-
> pak_sr_dx.asp
>
> There are others but these are the ones I know of personally and

have

> a good reputation amongst the reef community. Many more to choose
> from:
> http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers__index.asp
>
> Not sure where to place this last one, it's a new brand called
> Octopus, I have the NW-200 running in my new 180g and it's great,
> competes very well with skimmers costing 2-3 times as much. This
> company also makes two hang-on-back versions, a single and double
> chamber HOB skimmer, I would assume they are good, in looking at

> > "reviews" I've seen on the net seem to really be advertisements.
> >
> > Up front, I'd rather not purchase junk. The Prism skimmer always
> seemed
> > kind of cheap to me, but it worked okay as long as I monitored it.
> > Unfortunately, I needed to clean the unit frequently because scum
> would coat
> > the inside of the "bubble tower" and the unit would stop

Sorry about all those cut up links, you'll have to paste them back
together to see the pages they link to...

Giancarlo

.

emadore57

I didn t ask the original question but what s the name of the store in the GTA? That s my area and I m always looking. Thanks, Eilleen. ... variety

Message 6 of 20
, Apr 5, 2007

I didn't ask the original question but what's the name of the store in
the GTA? That's my area and I'm always looking.
Thanks,
Eilleen.

--- In UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com, "Jared" <jspice@...> wrote:
>
> What part of the country do you live in? Big Al's does have a
variety
> of Canadian operations, both local stores and online. Otherwise, I
> know a very high quality local store in the GTA that probably ships
> plants....
>
> > Does anyone have any onlink links to canadian sites that you can
> order
> > aquarium plants from?
>

Crewser

Big Al s has several stores in the GTA. http://www.bigalscanada.com/ They do carry a wide variety of aquatic plants, but I find their prices to be steep. I

Message 7 of 20
, Apr 7, 2007

Big Al's has several stores in the GTA. http://www.bigalscanada.com/ They do carry a wide variety of aquatic plants, but I find their prices to be steep. I have thought about buying plants from the online location out of Manitoba. Great prices it seems, and they excellent feedback.

Steve

Giancarlo Podio

Rusty, as much as I hate to knock a product, I have to say I have yet to hear 1 good thing about the Sea Clones. Please go to Reefcentral.com and/or reefs.org

Message 8 of 20
, Apr 9, 2007

Rusty, as much as I hate to knock a product, I have to say I have yet
to hear 1 good thing about the Sea Clones. Please go to
Reefcentral.com and/or reefs.org and perform a search there for more
feedback on the Sea Clone skimmer. There are threads regarding
modifications you can make to this skimmer to get it to perform a
little better, perhaps if you are a tinkerer like myself you can play
with a Sea Clone until it works for you...

Sorry, but that's the reputation it carries... I helped a friend try
to get one working nicely and he decided to return it shortly after.

Giancarlo

--- In UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com, "Lawrence" <porsche.9146@...> wrote:
>
> Giancarlo,
>
> Thank you for your input - I'll read those sites now. The lady at
my LFS
> tried to steer me towards a Sea Clone. They didn't have any in
stock, but
> said they could get me one by Wednesday. She seemed sincere and
wasn't
> pushing for an immediate sale.
>
> Any one running a Sea Clone? I liked the one they were using on a
tank in
> the store, because of the low-profile when it hung off the back.
It would
> hide behind my hood nicely.
>
> -Rusty
>
>
> _____
>
> From: UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com [mailto:UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf
> Of Giancarlo Podio
> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 3:14 PM
> To: UniQuaria@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [UniQuaria] Re: Protien Skimmer Recommendations?
>
>
>
> Of the hang-on-back skimmers, here are my personal preferences in
> order:
>
> 1. Coralife Super Skimmer - These are relatively new and gaining
> popularity. They are perhaps not built with similar quality as some
> of the more expensive skimmers but their efficiency and the design
> principle used is one of the better ones around today. It's a
needle-
> wheel venturi driven skimmer. It can be hung on the back or the
tank
> or in a sump. Different sizes exist but all have a relatively large
> pump to drive them properly.
> http://www.marinede
>
<http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_coralife_super_n
e>
> pot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_coralife_super_ne
> edle_wheel_venturi_system.asp
>
> 2. AquaC Remora series - These are popular "spray induction" driven
> skimmers. Very good build quality and long standing reputation. Not
> quite as efficient in my opinion as the above skimmers, but they
take
> up less room and depending on the size and load of your tank, these
> may suffice.
> http://www.marinede
>
<http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro
.>
> pot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro.
> asp
> http://www.marinede
>
<http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_nano_remor
a>
> pot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_nano_remora
> .asp
>
> 3. CPR Backpack Skimmers - This is what I've been using in my 40g
> reef for the last 3 years. They are very similar to the CPR units
but
> use the pump to suck in air and mix it through the impeller, a
> smaller scale setup to the first in the list. Not a bad skimmer at
> all and on Reefcentral.com you can usually find one for sale for
> under $100. Not as efficient as the two above however, I have
> modified mine to meet my needs.
> http://www.marinede
> <http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_cpr_bak->
> pot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_cpr_bak-
> pak_sr_dx.asp
>
> There are others but these are the ones I know of personally and
have
> a good reputation amongst the reef community. Many more to choose
> from:
> http://www.marinede
> <http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers__index.asp>
> pot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers__index.asp
>
> Not sure where to place this last one, it's a new brand called
> Octopus, I have the NW-200 running in my new 180g and it's great,
> competes very well with skimmers costing 2-3 times as much. This
> company also makes two hang-on-back versions, a single and double
> chamber HOB skimmer, I would assume they are good, in looking at
the
> photos they look like CPR Backpack skimmers on steroids (larger
pump)
> but I have not tried them nor heard from anyone who has to date.
>
> http://www.marineso
> <http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/Protein-Skimmers-Octopus-
>
> lutionsinc.com/catalog/Protein-Skimmers-Octopus-
> Skimmers/c22_35/p89/Octopus-Single-Hang-on-Protein-
> Skimmer/product_info.html
>
> As for the Prizm skimmers, I rarely hear anything good about them
to
> be honest... but I haven't tried one before.
>
> Happy skimming!
> Giancarlo Podio, LMD
>
> --- In UniQuaria@yahoogrou <mailto:UniQuaria%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com,
> "Lawrence" <porsche.9146@> wrote:
> >
> > Good morning, all.
> >
> > I'm looking for a new skimmer, as I cracked my old Prism skimmer
> last night,
> > when I disassembled it for cleaning. I'm hoping that someone can
> share
> > their protein skimmer recommendations or personal experiences.
Most
> > "reviews" I've seen on the net seem to really be advertisements.
> >
> > Up front, I'd rather not purchase junk. The Prism skimmer always
> seemed
> > kind of cheap to me, but it worked okay as long as I monitored it.
> > Unfortunately, I needed to clean the unit frequently because scum
> would coat
> > the inside of the "bubble tower" and the unit would stop
collecting
> > contaminants.
> >
> > Characteristics I'd like: hang-on, efficient, quiet and something
> that
> > won't get clogged easily.
> >
> > My tank is a 55 gallon, with a 20 gallon bioball sump below. (I
> have plans
> > to build a refugium in it's place... I've already started
> collecting parts.
> > When that happens, I might consider moving it below.)
> >
> > I use my lower-cabinet for storage of my fish "stuff", so housing
> more gear
> > under there might cause a storage issue.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> > Rusty
> > Alabama, USA
> >
>

pond_watcher

Anyone ever made a protein skimmer for yourself? Ken *edited to remove very long message string/Joanna, LMD